Tag Archives: cervical disc herniation

We have been providing spinal decompression therapy in downtown San Francisco for 9 years now. During this time we have helped thousands of patients with cervical and lumbar disc herniations, bulging discs, and related disorders, return to more normal lives.

Because we have treated so many cases over an extended period of time, we know that for the most part, spinal decompression results are long lasting.

Depending on the nature and severity of the individual neck or back pain patient’s condition when we started, their overall health and lifestyle, occupation, and initial treatment outcome, we may recommend ongoing maintenance care to improve the odds of the results lasting. Most decompression patients are happy to do this if it means the results will last longer, which they will.

The treatment frequency for maintenance care on the DRX9000 is anywhere from 2 times per month in the beginning to once every couple of months ongoing. In addition, there are exercises, stretches, home care, and nutritional recommendations to help patients maintain results.

Some patients choose to move into chiropractic, yoga, Pilates, or physical therapy for ongoing support. This is good, but none of these do what the spinal decompression machine can do. If you really want the decompression results to last you should probably continue with some sort of maintenance care. You can play around with the frequency until you find an interval that works best for you. Of course, we help you with this process.

For those that do not do maintenance, the results seem to hold up well…just not as good. So, to get the most out of your decompression, YES, we recommend some sort of maintenance plan, and we will make it affordable for you.

Chiro-Medical Group is an innovative collaboration of health care professionals who work together as a team to promote optimal health. Our group includes experts in the fields of medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, nutrition, and personal athletic training.

We have been treating neck pain in San Francisco for over 20 years now. About 7 years ago we began to include nonsurgical cervical decompression into our treatment protocols. The machine we use is the DRX9000c.

As chiropractors, when it comes to treating neck and back pain, we are always looking to achieve a favorable outcome with our hands…and for the most part this is what happens. However, there are times when “hands-on” does not work…or it doesn’t work good enough…or the patient is so sore and inflamed you can’t even lay your hands on them…what now…NECK SURGERY?

Well…that was our thought process 7 years ago. Now things are different…different because we have a next step…cervical decompression with the DRX9000c.

So cervical decompression can help prevent neck surgery?

YES!

I have actually had patients (many of them) that were scheduled for neck surgery, that decided to put it off and try spinal decompression first. Why?…to avoid neck surgery if possible. Did it work? YES…more often than not.

Here’s the deal…the DRX9000c is NOT a Magic Bullet. What it is is the most advanced medical technology available (that I know of) for the nonsurgical treatment of neurovascular compression syndromes in the neck. Conditions such as herniated and bulging cervical discs, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, and degenerative disc disease.

But it doesn’t work every time…just most of the time…and if you ask me…that’s a good enough reason to try it…as long as you qualify medically…not everyone does.

So yes…cervical decompression can help prevent neck surgery…absolutely…that’s one of our primary goals…and it’s why herniated and bulging disc patients seek us out.

Listen…you can always have neck surgery. But if you have any kind of cervical fusion surgery you will never be able to try nonsurgical cervical decompression…and that is a bummer.

I have had patients cry in my office when I told them this. I have had herniated disc patients with neck fusion say they would have the screws removed and come back. They were stuck and living out a nightmare. heck…at least try spinal decompression first (if you qualify).

It’s what I would do…and it’s also what I would have a loved one do. In fact…a close family member went through spinal decompression at my clinic and still had to have low back surgery…it was that bad. But at least she knows she tried.

Chiro-Medical Group is an innovative collaboration of health care professionals who work together as a team to promote optimal health. Our group includes experts in the fields of medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, nutrition, and personal athletic training.

We have been providing treatment for cervical disc herniations in San Francisco for almost 20 years now. Some of the more common symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck are neck pain, shoulder pain, hand pain, weakness in the upper extremities, numbness and tingling in the arms and hands, night pain, swelling of the fingers, headaches, and cervical muscle spasms.

DRX9000c

It is possible to have no neck pain at all with a herniated disc…which is why herniated cervical discs are often misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. A cervical MRI is the gold standard diagnostic tool for ruling out or confirming a disc herniation.

At our San Francisco Spinal Decompression Clinic, a patient will often present with cervical disc signs and symptoms that have not responded to conventional treatments such as physical therapy, cortisone, chiropractic, or medications. They feel they have nowhere to turn…and may have been told they need neck surgery.

This is when cervical spinal decompression with the DRX9000c should be considered. The DRX9000c is designed and built to treat cervical disc herniations without surgery. We have the only DRX9000c in San Francisco.

Cervical decompression isolates on the spinal segments of the injured cervical disc…say C5-6. The DRX9000x seeks to reposition the herniated disc, enlarge the disc space, elongate the cervical spine, rehydrate the disc, and strengthen the spinal ligaments and muscles. It’s like a respirator for the discs.

Does the DRX9000c work every time? NO…just most of the time. For those that do not benefit from cervical decompression, they are still whole and can pursue other treatment options. The same is not true if you have certain spinal surgeries like a fusion. If you have surgical fusion to the cervical spine, you can never try the DRX9000…you are disqualified.

What if I am having the symptoms of a herniated disc and nothing is helping me…should I get an MRI? YES…and visit a doctor that does nonsurgical spinal decompression. Many multidisciplinary clinics offer spinal decompression…so you can consult with an MD and a chiropractor.

Whatever you do don’t just run and have neck surgery…check out your options first. Surgery should be the last resort…not the first.

Chiro-Medical Group is an innovative collaboration of health care professionals who work together as a team to promote optimal health. Our group includes experts in the fields of medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, nutrition, and personal athletic training.